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Have the Samaritans lowered the suicide rate? A controlled study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

C. Jennings ,
B. M. Barraclough  and
J. R. Moss
C. Jennings*
Affiliation:
Medical Research Council Clinical Psychiatry Unit, Graylingwell Hospital, Department of Community Health, University of Nottingham
B. M. Barraclough
Affiliation:
Medical Research Council Clinical Psychiatry Unit, Graylingwell Hospital, Department of Community Health, University of Nottingham
J. R. Moss
Affiliation:
Medical Research Council Clinical Psychiatry Unit, Graylingwell Hospital, Department of Community Health, University of Nottingham
*
1Address for correspondence: Mr C.Jennings, MRC Clinical Psychiatry Unit, Graylingwell Hospital, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 4PQ.
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Synopsis

Suicide rates in towns with a Samaritan branch were compared with rates in matched control towns without a branch. Four methods of choosing controls are described, all of which have advantages over those used by Bagley (1968). No statistically significant differences between Samaritan and control towns were found. The scientific case for the effectiveness of the Samaritans in reducing the suicide rate is therefore seriously weakened.

Type
Research Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 8 , Issue 3 , August 1978 , pp. 413 - 422
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1978

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